Clashes at Pakistan's largest and busiest airport left more than 20 people dead after militants armed with grenades stormed into a cargo area yesterday.

Violence erupted at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi around 11:30 p.m. last night, and raged on for more than five hours as security forces fought off attackers, leaving some passengers trapped inside the airport.

Officials at Jinnah Hospital in Karachi said the dead included 8 members of airport security forces, 2 Pakistan International Airlines employees and 1 ranger, and Ten militants were also killed in the clashes,

All operations at the terminal remain suspended and all flights to the airport are being diverted. Staff and passengers were evacuated.